Automobile frame



C. E. WEAVER"l AUTOMOBILE FRAME. APPLxc/mon FILED JUNE 16.1921.

" Parnfed 1922 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' C. E. WEAVER.

AUTOMOBILE FRAME. APPLlcATloN F1LEDJUNE16,1921.

1,435,354. PatentedNw 14,1922.'

AUTOMOBILE FRAME.

T all whom it may cof/wem.' i

Be it known that I, CAiUs E. WEAVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Automobile Frames, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The vinvention relates to the frames of .automobiles and similar vehicles; and the improvement consists, first, in providing a rigid frame constructed of angular and channel-shaped sheet metal lengthwise and 15. crosswise members in which' said lengthwise members. comprise vthree-part side rails which are supported in tapering relation to one another from the rear toward the front; and second, to construct said automobile frame so that itl may be made in three subassemblies, the front sub-assembly including the front portions of said side rails connected by the crossrails and the motor and transmission, the central sub-assembly including the side aprons and the running boards attached thereto and the central crossrails and ihe tor ue tube and propeller shaft supported therein, the rear subassembly including the rear portions ofthe side rails and the l connective cross members and the differential casing rigidly attached-,thereto and to said torque tube. This arrangement permits'the running boards, side aprons and a part of the fenders being assembled as la part of and reinforcement for the frame,

thereby giving great rigidity and strengthn thereto, and permitting a large reduction in weight, as well as holding the drive line or ropeller shaft in alinement, and eliminat 4'0 ing the tendency in said frame to weave or twist, also permitting said three sub-assemblies t'o be constructed independent of one another and then assembled into the complete automobile frame and chassis; and the invention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.-

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the chassis of an automobile, showo ing the automobile frame attached upon the axle assemblages of said chassis. Fig. 2 is a lengthwise sectional viewY oflsaid chassis maar carreau.

oAIUs n. WEAVER, or sYRAcUsE, NEW Yoan, Assreivon 'ro BIRMINGHAM morons. a TRUST, or JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK. e

with the motor and transmission removed,

showing the preferred constructionv and arrangement of the different parts of the automobile frame and its relation to the front and rear aXleassemblages and the torque tube.. Fig. 3 isa crosswise sectional view of sald frame at line 3 3 in Fig. v1 showing the torque tube and drive line rigidly supported 1n a crosswise `member of the frame,

and the preferred construction and arrange vment of the frame and running boardsv ateach side.' Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the running board and 'apron showin the manner in which the front and rear engthwise side rails are assembled into said apron.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the clampingV rings for 4the torque tube; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the radial cuts in the crosswise member of the frame for attaching the torque tube; and Fig. 7 is an endwise view of the crosswise member showing the tiriangular shaped clamping"`v lugs formed by said cuts and extending at right angles from said crosswise member to receive the clamp'- lng ring shown in Fig. 5 around thesame to rigidly clamp and hold the 'torque tube therein. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the automobile frame showingy the preferred construction andA arrangement of the same. Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the front cross member, with its downwardly projecting gussets and apron for attachment tb the frame and front axle assembly. Fig. 10 is an outer side elevation of one ofthe front side rails; and Fig. 11 shows a similar view of. one of the rear side rails. Fig. 12 is an elevation of the crosswise channel-shaped' cross bar member of the frame over the rear axle differential assembly.

Like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views. d The automobile frame consists of two three-part siderails 15 and 16 which taper forwardly in their relation one to the other,

andthe crosswise connections for said rails.V

The tlhree partsof said side rails 15 and boards 19 attached thereto, and the rear side rail portions 20. Said front and rear side rail portions 17 and 19 are preferably made in the channel-shaped form with the channel turned inward and are bent upward to accommodate the front and rear axle assemblies. The aprons .18 are preferably made in the inverted L-shape form in cross sectionv 24 and the gussets 25 at each side which extend intb said open sides of the front side rail portion 17, the entire'cross rail23 with its apron 24 and gussets 25 being preferably struck fromthe sheet metal in `,the form v shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 9. The front downao` l portions of said front side rail portions 17 form the third crosswise connecting memwardly projecting apron 24 is placed at a forward angle to assist! in taking the shocks from obstacles encountered by the front wheels, and to thereby aid in overcoming any tendency-of the frame to weave forward. The motor supporting brackets 22 attached within the open channel sides ofthe rear ber for the side rails 15 and 16 as shown in Fig. 1 when the motor is attached to said brackets 22.

The side aprons 18 of the central subassembly have the crosswise channel-shaped y connecting bars 26 and 27, that is, they have anges on their upperand lower' edges -as well as, upon their end portions, by means of which they are attached to the aprons 18.

' rIhe torque tube 28 is rigidly yet removably supported central of said cross bars 26 and 27, as well as to the transmission casing 34 at its front end, and to the differential casing 29 at its lrear end, as hereinafter described.

The rear sub-assenibly-consists of the two vchannel-shaped side rail portions 2O which are connected over the ldifferential casing 29 by the crosswise channel-shaped bar 30 which is braced by suitable gussets extending rearwardly and into the open. channel sides of said rear side rail members 20. The" rear -portions 20 of the gradually widening side rails 15 and 16 are further connected by a rear tubular rod 3l which strengthens and braces said rear ends,` holding .them

lfirmly in position. Suitable `brackets are provided within the channel-shaped ends of said side rail portions 2O to support thel tubular cross rod 31 firmly in position and give added rigidity to said frame.

A front bumper 32 is attached to the front ends of the front side rails 15 and16 by which are attached to the brackets holding said tubular cross lrod 3 0. rlhis arrange-v ment is preferable as it is desired that. the side rails 15 and 16 should bend at the point of attachment for said stub rails 33 rather than to buckle or bend the'side rails 15 and 16 in the rear of the front axle alongside the motor. A. rear bumper 35 is attached by means of stub rails 36 at each side in much the same manner as the front bumper 32, by attachment to the holding brackets for the tubular cross rail 31.

The running boards 19 are made a part of the frame, stiifenin and strengthening the three-part side rais 15 and 16, being preferably formed with inner and outer downwardly turned flanges. l The inner downwardly turned Hanges 37 at each side are rmly attached by riveting or spot welding to the aprons l17 and 18 along their lower edges, the ends of said running boards being 'turned upwardly for the attachment of the fenders or mud guards thereto which extend over the wheels. The outer downwardly turned fianges 38 extend the full length of the running boards 19 and 2() and areof suiicient width to greatly strengthen and stiffen the said running boards.

Under each of the cross members 25 and 26 an angular cross bar 39 is attached to the lower flange of said cross members 25 and 26, which cross bars 39 greatly stiffen .and strengthensaid cross members and ex tend upward and outward beneath. the

aprons 17 and 18 and running blards 19 .and

20, preferably bracing againstthe inner side of the outer flange 38, therlry greatly stiflening and strengthening"said running' boards with a minimum addition of weight thereto. The running boards 19 and 2O and bracing cross bars 39 greatly stiften and strengthen the entire central assemblage so that when the front side rails 15 and 16 and rear side rails 21 and 2,2 are assembled into the same, as hereinbefore described, the entire automobile frame' is rigidly held in alin'ement so that the tendency to weave or twist is practically eliminated..

The torque tube 27 is removably attached in the openings in central cross members 25 and 26, which.v openings are made by means of cuts 40 which extend radially from the central axis line desired for the torque tube 27 which'axis line is slightly above the angle of one and seven-tenths degrees from the horizontal as shown at 41 in Fig. 2, the

`horizontal line 42 showing the upward inclination forward of the axis of the rear axle. The cuts 40 shape the pointed` clamping members 43 when turned into alinement ring 44 is fastened around the torque tube, and clamping members or fingers 43 rigidly `means of short I'stub rails 33 at each side around the torque tube 28 and a clampinge 120 horizontal, being preferably at labout an l yet removably hold the torque tube 28 and make it a portion of the automobile frame.

What is claimed as new is: `1. In an automobile frame, side rails composed o f central l members of inverted L-shapefand front and rear members each of channel shape secured to and beneath .Y the top flanges of the central members and abutting the inner vertical faces of the latter, running boards of inverted U-shape havingl their inner flanges abutting and secured to the outer vertical faces` ofthev central members, and cross members engaged `with the lower edges. of the central members and inner flanges of the running boards and having upturned outer end parts which engage the under faces of the running boards and end faces which abut the inner faces of the outer flanges of the running boards.

2. In an automobile frame, side rails composed of central members, rear members and channel shaped front members, and a cross rail'having endssecured within the channels of the front members and having a depending apron and lateral gussets, lthe latter extending within 4and lsecured to the lower flanges of the channels of the frontY members.

3. In an automobile frame, side rails composed of central members of inverted L- shape, and front and rear members secured to the -central member, running boards of inverted U-shape having their inner flanges secured to the lower parts of the -central members, and cross members engaged with the lower edges of the central members and` the lower edges of the inner flanges of the running boards and having. upturned end parts engaged with the under faces of the running boards, the end faces of the cross members abutting the inner faces lof the outer flanges of the running boards.

4c. In an automobile frame, side rails including inverted L-shaped-central members and channel-shaped front and rear members, the front and rear'members being securedtothe inner faces of the ncentral members and to the inner face ofthe horizontal flanges p 5o of the central members, spaced transverse supports having top flanges secured to the horizontal flanges of the central members and cross members engaged with the botf toms of the central members and with the bottoms ofthe transverse supports.

5. In an automobile frame., sider rails in cluding central rear andfront members, en- ..gine securing means secured at its ends to i. each of the front members,dilferential sev j so curing means secured at its endsto each of the rear members, a torque tube receiving the drive shaft, means to secure the front end 'of the tube to the transmission casing, means 4 to secure the rear end of the tube to thev differential casing, and cross supports between the two casings forsecuring 'thel tube to the central members at points betweenthe bers having upper parts engaged beneath the horizontal flanges of the central mem' I .bers and lower parts seated on the first cross members.

7 In an automobile frame, side rails composed of centralmembers having top flanges,

and front and rear members secured to the inner vertical lfaces ofthe central members and having top flanges secured to the under faces ofthe top flanges of the central mem'- bers, spaced-transverse supports having top flanges secured to the top flanges of the cen tral members, and cross members engaged with the bottoms of the central members and with the bottomsl of the transverse supports,l

8. In an automobile frame, side rails including lcentral members having top flanges and channel shaped front and rearlmembers attachedv to the central members and to the" top flanges thereof, cross members secured at their ends in the outer ends of the channels of the front and rear members, other cross members secured at their ends in the channels of the front and rear members, and cross members having flanges secured to the top flanges of the central members.

9, In an automobile frame, side rails in;l

cluding central members having topv flanges, front and rear` members connected to the central members, cross members connected to the. front and rear members, cross members having top flanges secured to the top flanges of the. central members, lrunning 'boards secured to the central members, and

cross members secured tofthe central members and running boards and supporting the lower sides of the cross members having the top flanges.

10. In an automobile frame, side rails, running vboards attached to the side rails, cross .members for the side rails secured at theirvends thereto, and 'cross members secured to the bottom sides of the. side rails and of the running boards and engaging and supporting the lower sides of the first named cross members.

11. In an automobile frame, side rails having central'A parts formed with top .flanges,cross members vfor said central parts iis.

iso

having top flanges secured to the top flanges In testimony whereof 1 have axed my of the central parts of the slde rails, runsigna-ture in the presence of two Witnesses. ning boards secured to said side rails, and

cross members engaged with the bottoms of CAIUS E- WEAVER' 5 `the side rails and with the running boards Witnesses:

and with the bottoms of the rst named THEO. THOMAS HAAG,

cross members to support the latter. CORINNE V. SWANSON. 

